Warriors struggle to get in rhythm

Updated 11:06 pm, Monday, December 16, 2013

Photo: Rick Scuteri, Associated Press

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Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) against the Phoenix Suns in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Warriors 10-102. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) less

Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) against the Phoenix Suns in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Warriors 10-102. (AP ... more

Photo: Rick Scuteri, Associated Press

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PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 15: Draymond Green #23 and David Lee #10 of the Golden State Warriors react as they walk down court in the final moments of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on December 15, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 106-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) less

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 15: Draymond Green #23 and David Lee #10 of the Golden State Warriors react as they walk down court in the final moments of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on ... more

Photo: Christian Petersen, Getty Images

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PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Mark Jackson of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on December 15, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona.The Suns defeated the Warriors 106-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) less

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Mark Jackson of the Golden State Warriors reacts during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on December 15, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona.The Suns ... more

Photo: Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Warriors struggle to get in rhythm

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After the Warriors lost for the third time in four games and dropped to one game above .500, the postgame locker room Sunday night was a place of mourning.

The gloomiest response might have come from point guard Stephen Curry when he was asked if he believed the team is better than its 13-12 mark.

"I used to," he said before stumbling to recover from his public candor. "No team is just going to give you an opportunity to come in and just cakewalk through a win. We have to fight our way out of it.

"I think we have what it takes. I know we have what it takes. I know we're a good team, but you can't call yourself a good team with that record. Our expectations are higher."

The Warriors came into the season with the highest of expectations. They wanted to be the first Warriors squad to win 50 games since 1993-94, grab home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs and improve on last season's second-round exit.

After upsetting Denver in the first round last season and taking eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio to six games, the Warriors appeared to be on the rise. They returned this season with healthy versions of Andrew Bogut and David Lee and added do-everything All-Star Andre Iguodala.

But there they were Sunday, in another losing locker room, stewing about how things have gone wrong.

"It's funny. Last year, we were better than we looked on paper, and this year, we haven't done as good a job as our roster suggests we should," Lee said. "There's nothing we can do now but try to come back and right what we've done wrong. A lot of that starts with the intensity."

After watching his team fall behind by double digits in the first half again Sunday and not find a reason to play until it was too late, head coach Mark Jackson questioned the team's desire. He went as far as to say it looked as though the coaches wanted it more than the players.

It's hard to argue Jackson's point, and, for the most part, the players didn't.

"We haven't played a 48-minute game in a long time," forward Draymond Green said. "We've gotten some wins on a couple of 10-minute games, 12-minutes games, but we haven't put a solid, good game together to match what this team is capable of in a long time. ...

"All of sudden, it becomes part of your DNA. That's our DNA right now: We don't play hard; we don't defend."

Bogut said the team's defense is good for one or two passes per possession, but when an opponent starts really moving the ball, you can see that the Warriors aren't all that engaged.

He said that all teams have defensive lapses but that the good squads minimize the blips.

"Ours are like a heart-rate monitor," he said. "We're all over the place."

Tuesday's game

Who: Pelicans (11-11) at Warriors (13-12)

Where: Oracle Arena

When: 7:30 p.m.

TV/Radio: CSNBA/680

Of note: The Warriors swept New Orleans last season for the first time since 1995-96 and have a franchise-best, five-game winning streak in the series. ... With three players averaging at least 1.6 steals per game, New Orleans ranks third in the league in steals (9.2) and sixth in the NBA in points converted off turnovers (18.4). ... Pelicans big man Anthony Davis is out with a broken left hand, which has moved Ryan Anderson into the starting lineup. The former Cal forward leads the league in three-pointers per game (3.5) and free-throw percentage (97.7). ... New Orleans guard Tyreke Evans missed Sunday's loss at Denver and is day-to-day with a sprained left ankle.

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